Control of Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Infesting Power Poles

Abstract

A trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of termiticidal dusts (arsenic trioxide, triflumuron, and Metarhizium anisopliae), a timber fumigant (dazomet) and liquid termiticides (bifenthrin, chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, and imidacloprid) for controlling subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) infesting in-service power poles in New South Wales, Australia. Dusts were applied to parts of the pole where termites were present. Fumigant was inserted into holes drilled into the base of the pole. Liquid termiticides were mixed with soil around the base of the pole and injected into internal voids if present. Poles were inspected for up to 5 yr, and the time taken for reinfestation to occur was recorded. Before the start of the trial, the major Australian pole owners were surveyed to obtain an estimate of the annual national cost of termite infestation to the power supply industry. The annual costs of termite treatment and replacing damaged poles were estimated at AU$2 million and AU$13 million, respectively. Infestation rates were lower for all treatments compared with controls within the first 12 mo of the study. Dazomet, arsenic trioxide, fipronil, and chlorpyrifos were the most efficacious treatments. Efficacy was positively related to the amount of termiticide applied and negatively related to the infestation severity but was unaffected by geographical location. Survival curves were calculated of the time elapsed before the recurrence of termite infestations (survival absence of reinfestation). Survival was highest for poles treated with liquid termiticides.

Control of subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) infestations in wooden power poles using bandages containing fipronil

“…data 2010). When an internal drench of termiticide was used in conjunction with soil barriers, the level of control rose to 76% (Horwood et al . 2010).…”

“…Post‐treatment inspections were carried out on all poles after approximately 12 months (‘Time 1’), a period deemed to be of sufficient duration to assess treatment efficacy for controlling existing termite infestations in power poles (Horwood et al . 2010).…”

“…Surveys (Reynolds & Eldridge 1973; Heather 1974) have reported up to 11 species of termite attacking poles in eastern Australia, the most damaging of which were the subterranean species, especially Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Estimates of the percentage of in‐service poles infested by termites range from 0.13% (Heather 1974) to 0.88% (Horwood et al . 2010).…”

“…public liability, equipment and property damage and loss of revenues). The cost of treatment and pole replacement alone were estimated in 1999 to be approximately $15 million per annum (Horwood et al . 2010).…”

“…Modified bandages contained 4.5 g/kg fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide, in addition to the usual ingredients. Fipronil is one of the newer termiticides to enter the market and is a highly efficacious soil termiticide (Waite & Gold 2004; Hu 2005; Horwood et al . 2010).…”